Marine Le Pen refuses to wear headscarf for meeting with Lebanon's Grand Mufti

[Tender Branson]

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has refused to go into a meeting with Lebanon’s grand mufti after being asked to wear a headscarf.

Le Pen, who is in Beirut in a bid to boost her presidential credentials, was set to meet the Sunni Muslim religious leader on Tuesday morning until the sudden change of heart.

“You can pass on my respects to the Grand Mufti, but I will not cover myself up,” Le Pen said.

The press office for the Grand Mufti later insisted her aides had been informed beforehand of the headscarf requirement.

On Monday the French politician held talks with Lebanese President Michel Aoun. It is thought to be the first time she has met a foreign head of state.

http://www.euronews.com/2017/02/21/france-s-marine-le-pen-refuses-to-wear-headscarf-for-meeting-with-lebanon-s

[Tender Branson]

Reminds me of the German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, who visited Saudi-Arabia in December and was asked to wear a headscarf when meeting with the Saudi men.

After which she replied: "I will certainly not wear a headscarf plus I'll choose my own clothing."



https://www.welt.de/icon/article160241319/Ich-setze-mir-kein-Kopftuch-auf-und-trage-Hosen.html

[Tender Branson]

Why would the Grand Mufti want Le Pen to wear a headscarf in the first place ?

As far as I know, there's no word in the Koran which says women have to wear a headscarf when entering a mosque or meeting with some Mufti ...

(or, if there is a verse in the Koran about it - you can certainly interpret it one way or the other).

Therefore, even if I don't like Le Pen, she's virtually right about it. No need to kow-tow to some foreign Mufti. Better stand up to what you believe in and show backbone.